Mountain Wanderer Map and Bookstore

About Me

Owner of Mountain Wanderer Map and Book Store and avid hiker for 40 years. Editor of AMC White Mountain Guide and author or co-author of several other White Mountain guidebooks. Member of AMC Four Thousand Footer Committee and WMNF trail adopter.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

THE FLUME LOOP: 2/26/10

When we only have an hour or two, the two-mile loop around The Flume and The Pool in Franconia Notch State Park is one of our favorite winter treks. In its short distance there's a wonderful variety of scenery, and there are enough ups and downs for a bit of a workout. And, it being the off-season, admission is free! There is plenty of plowed parking at the Flume Visitor Center off Rt. 3 (or Exit 34A off I-93).

We went there the day after the massive storm that delivered a heavy wind-driven rain to the western valleys and dumped heaps of snow at the higher elevations; this was the same storm whose fierce winds knocked down countless trees and left hundreds of thousands of NH residents without power. At The Flume there was only a thin layer - maybe two inches - of wet snow atop the solid track tramped out by many previous winter visitors. Off track, the snow was very mushy posthole material. MSR snowshoes were ideal for the springlike conditions on the track.